The enemy, crossing the flats obliquely passed the fort near the hill east, and halted on a small eminence nearly north of it, in the orchard of Peter Becker, near the present residence of Peter I. Borst.
At this time many of the Indians were scattered over the flats, engaged in the work of destruction.
As the enemy were proceeding from the river toward the hill east of the fort; Lansing, a captain of the Albany militia, followed by a party of volunteers, sallied in that direction and met the advance, with which he exchanged several shots.
Elerson, stated that at this time he was behind a board fence near the wood, beyond his comrades, when he observed an officer in a red coat advance from the British ranks, at whom he discharged his rifle.
He saw the enemy's guns leveled at him, and instantly fled to the fort.
He supposed that seven hundred fired at him in this flight, yet he escaped from them untouched.
The fence from which he ran, like that which had concealed Murphy just before, was completely peppered with bullets.
Capt. Miller, who commanded a company of Claverack militia, then in the fort, called to Elerson's wife, to see her husband run.
Col. Vrooman, also, as Elerson was informed, watched his flight with intense anxiety.
A shot sent among the British troops from the brass-cannon, while they were firing on Elerson, caused some confusion among Johnson's Greens.
They were then passing the most exposed part of the fortress.
There was a small gate on the east side, through which Capt. Lansing and his men entered.
Col. Johnson had with him a small mortar, and a field-piece - the latter a brass six pounder.
The carriage for the cannon was carried in parts, and required screwing together.
They were made ready to fire, at the stand he had chosen in Becker's orchard, and a cannonading and bombardment commenced, while a constant firing was kept up with small arms, but generally at too great a distance for the latter to take effect.
Three shells were well thrown from this position by the enemy at the fort, and many cannon-shot were fired but with less precision, the most of them passing entirely over the destined object.
The first shell fired, sung in the air like a pigeon, and exploded directly over the house; and as its fragments fell upon the roof, Mrs. Richtmyer, an old lady, then in an upper room, who had been an invalid, and unable to rise alone from her bed for a long time, was so frightened that she sprang from it, and went below, surviving the effect but a short time.
The second shell fell within the pickets near the well, and while the fuse was burning off and the ball dancing in a mud hole, every person exposed to its explosion had ample time to gain a respectful distance, and it scattered its fragments without injuring any one. 4
The third shell fell through the roof of the main building, and lodging on a pile of feather-beds in the chamber, which were deposited upon several chests of bedding, it exploded tearing the beds in pieces, doing little other mischief, except that of frightening Christian Richard, an old bachelor, who chanced to be in the room, almost to death.
The explosion completely filled the room with feathers, and groping his way down stairs, Rickard made his appearance below, where many of the women and children were, covered with feathers, and spitting down from his mouth, which sudden fear had caused him to open too widely for such an atmosphere.
When asked what had happened, he replied in Low Dutch, (as kindly rendered by a Dutch friend, at my elbow) "Ik donk de duyvel is op de solder, de veri vliegen so rondt dat ik niet zien con." - I think the devil is in the chamber, for the feathers fly around so that I cannot see.
The beds were set on fire but were easily extinguished, as water had been provided for such emergency.
4 It is stated in the Life of Brant, that a woman brought several buckets of water from a well without the works exposed to the enemy's fire, for the thirsty soldiers; one of whom, when required, dared not perform the feat. This story has no foundation in truth. The well was within the pickets, and afforded an abundant supply of water, as I have been assured by nearly a dozen credible witnesses, who were in the Middle fort at the time alluded to.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
After the firing had been continued for some time by the enemy, and several shells thrown, it suddenly ceased, and a white flag was seen to leave the British ranks and advance toward the fort.
The flag-bearer was accompanied on his right by an officer in a green uniform, and on his left by a fifer, playing Yankee doodle.
When the flag was discovered approaching, Maj. Woolsey gave orders to have it admitted, but not another officer in the fort, to their credit be it said, was in favor of its admission; and Murphy and Elerson, who conjectured what their fate might be, should the enemy learn the actual strength of the garrison, and succeed in its capture - determined, so the latter informed the author, that before the flag should enter the fort, one or the other of them should shoot Woolsey himself.
On that day, Murphy used his double-barreled rifle, 5 and as the flag drew near he fired upon it - not with the intention of killing its bearer, or either of his companions, as is generally supposed, but to say, in effect, "approach any nearer and you are a dead man."
The trio with the flag halted, faced about and marched back to their former station.
When Murphy fired on the flag, Maj. Woolsey was not present, having visited his quarters to prepare himself to enforce submission to his commands; for soon after, he returned pistol in hand, and demanded who had dared to disobey his orders?
"I fired on the flag," said Murphy.
Maj. W. then threatened the brave soldier with instant death if he repeated the act; and the latter who believed the willingness of the commandant to admit the flag proceeded from cowardice alone, retorted with warmth - "Sooner than see that flag enter this fort, will I send a bullet through your heart."
Seeing an evident disposition in all the officers present to sustain Murphy - for they had rallied round him to a man, (not from a desire to see just commands violated, but to defend the fort at all hazards,) the major walked towards the house.
In this time, the flag attended as before, had again advanced, and Maj. W. had not proceeded two rods when Murphy again fired, and its bearer faced about and retired.
During this parley the firing on both sides had ceased, with the exception stated, and was not resumed until after Col. Johnson, from his great desire to get a flag into the fort, dispatched it by the same party a third time.
It is possible that from his position he had, with a spy-glass, observed the movement of Maj. Woolsey.
They had not proceeded as far as at first, however, when a third bullet from Murphy's rifle passed over their heads, saying, in effect, "thus far, but no further;" and they returned to the ranks.
The firing was then renewed.
Maj. Woolsey, after the spar with Murphy, entered the dwelling where the women and children were confined; but their jeers savoring too much of satire, he left their presence and sought safety elsewhere.
The cellar under the kitchen part of the dwelling was occupied as a magazine, and Col. Vrooman, to conceal the deficiency of powder, brought it himself when wanted.
All the officers in the fort, except Woolsey, divested themselves of their hats early in the siege and substituted cravats: while several of them laid off their coats, and taking guns, all fought manfully. 6
As powder was needed Col. Vrooman laid down his gun and sword and went to get it.
Near the cellar door he encountered Maj. Woolsey, who had just left the presence of the women, as may be supposed, not in very good humor.
" Maj. Woolsey, is this your place," interrogated the brave colonel, "who are placed here to defend this fort?"
He replied, half dead through fear - "Col. Vrooman, the men will not obey me, and I give up the command to you."
At this moment a cannon shot struck the house and fell harmless at their feet.
The colonel instantly caught it up, and playfully extended it to the major, with the simple exclamation - "Send that back to them!"
With perfect indifference the coward replied, "That I think would be s - n work."
The fire of the Dutch colonel was instantly ignited at the indifference and filthy expression of the commandant, and speaking in his usually quick manner, he rejoined - "Maj. Woolsey, had I my sword I would run you through with it."
The major, perhaps ashamed of his conduct, wheeled and walked off, and the colonel got his powder and returned to his men, exclaiming as he gave them the necessary article, "Fire away my brave lads, we have plenty of ammunition."
The troops were gratified to learn that the command of the fort was surrendered to him, and obeyed his orders with alacrity.
More than once when he went for powder, as he afterwards confessed, his hair rise on his head, not from fear of the enemy, but lest the small supply of ammunition should be completely exhausted, and the foe, becoming conscious of it, storm their works.
5 Much has been said about Murphy's double-barreled gun - and more than it merited; at least, so a son of Murphy assured the writer he had often heard his father say. He had such a gun, while at Schoharie, but it was so heavy he seldom used it, except on garrison duty. An anecdote told by Campbell, of the use of this gun, I have not been able to authenticate so as to warrant its insertion.
6 In the early part of the war the captains all carried guns, but at a later period they were prohibited from bearing them, from a complaint that while loading they neglected duties to their men.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
The flag-bearer was accompanied on his right by an officer in a green uniform, and on his left by a fifer, playing Yankee doodle.
When the flag was discovered approaching, Maj. Woolsey gave orders to have it admitted, but not another officer in the fort, to their credit be it said, was in favor of its admission; and Murphy and Elerson, who conjectured what their fate might be, should the enemy learn the actual strength of the garrison, and succeed in its capture - determined, so the latter informed the author, that before the flag should enter the fort, one or the other of them should shoot Woolsey himself.
On that day, Murphy used his double-barreled rifle, 5 and as the flag drew near he fired upon it - not with the intention of killing its bearer, or either of his companions, as is generally supposed, but to say, in effect, "approach any nearer and you are a dead man."
The trio with the flag halted, faced about and marched back to their former station.
When Murphy fired on the flag, Maj. Woolsey was not present, having visited his quarters to prepare himself to enforce submission to his commands; for soon after, he returned pistol in hand, and demanded who had dared to disobey his orders?
"I fired on the flag," said Murphy.
Maj. W. then threatened the brave soldier with instant death if he repeated the act; and the latter who believed the willingness of the commandant to admit the flag proceeded from cowardice alone, retorted with warmth - "Sooner than see that flag enter this fort, will I send a bullet through your heart."
Seeing an evident disposition in all the officers present to sustain Murphy - for they had rallied round him to a man, (not from a desire to see just commands violated, but to defend the fort at all hazards,) the major walked towards the house.
In this time, the flag attended as before, had again advanced, and Maj. W. had not proceeded two rods when Murphy again fired, and its bearer faced about and retired.
During this parley the firing on both sides had ceased, with the exception stated, and was not resumed until after Col. Johnson, from his great desire to get a flag into the fort, dispatched it by the same party a third time.
It is possible that from his position he had, with a spy-glass, observed the movement of Maj. Woolsey.
They had not proceeded as far as at first, however, when a third bullet from Murphy's rifle passed over their heads, saying, in effect, "thus far, but no further;" and they returned to the ranks.
The firing was then renewed.
Maj. Woolsey, after the spar with Murphy, entered the dwelling where the women and children were confined; but their jeers savoring too much of satire, he left their presence and sought safety elsewhere.
The cellar under the kitchen part of the dwelling was occupied as a magazine, and Col. Vrooman, to conceal the deficiency of powder, brought it himself when wanted.
All the officers in the fort, except Woolsey, divested themselves of their hats early in the siege and substituted cravats: while several of them laid off their coats, and taking guns, all fought manfully. 6
As powder was needed Col. Vrooman laid down his gun and sword and went to get it.
Near the cellar door he encountered Maj. Woolsey, who had just left the presence of the women, as may be supposed, not in very good humor.
" Maj. Woolsey, is this your place," interrogated the brave colonel, "who are placed here to defend this fort?"
He replied, half dead through fear - "Col. Vrooman, the men will not obey me, and I give up the command to you."
At this moment a cannon shot struck the house and fell harmless at their feet.
The colonel instantly caught it up, and playfully extended it to the major, with the simple exclamation - "Send that back to them!"
With perfect indifference the coward replied, "That I think would be s - n work."
The fire of the Dutch colonel was instantly ignited at the indifference and filthy expression of the commandant, and speaking in his usually quick manner, he rejoined - "Maj. Woolsey, had I my sword I would run you through with it."
The major, perhaps ashamed of his conduct, wheeled and walked off, and the colonel got his powder and returned to his men, exclaiming as he gave them the necessary article, "Fire away my brave lads, we have plenty of ammunition."
The troops were gratified to learn that the command of the fort was surrendered to him, and obeyed his orders with alacrity.
More than once when he went for powder, as he afterwards confessed, his hair rise on his head, not from fear of the enemy, but lest the small supply of ammunition should be completely exhausted, and the foe, becoming conscious of it, storm their works.
5 Much has been said about Murphy's double-barreled gun - and more than it merited; at least, so a son of Murphy assured the writer he had often heard his father say. He had such a gun, while at Schoharie, but it was so heavy he seldom used it, except on garrison duty. An anecdote told by Campbell, of the use of this gun, I have not been able to authenticate so as to warrant its insertion.
6 In the early part of the war the captains all carried guns, but at a later period they were prohibited from bearing them, from a complaint that while loading they neglected duties to their men.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The firing of shells was not renewed by the enemy, and the discharge of grape and round shot was only continued at intervals from the fort, as the supply of powder would not warrant its constant use.
Destructionists were to be seen at this period of the siege, scattered over the flats in almost every direction.
The garrison was to weak to make a bold sortie, but many small parties were sent out during the day to harass the enemy, and save, if possible, a large barn belonging to John Becker, which stood almost in the direction of Col. Johnson's position: around which clustered numerous stacks of hay and grain.
As several Indians were seen approaching the barn, a party from the fort went to meet them.
Several shots were exchanged, and Sergeant Cooper, of Albany, received a wound in one leg; and was instantly borne off by two of his comrades to the fort: but while proceeding thither, he received a ball through his body, of which his carriers were unconscious.
As they entered the fort, Susannah Vrooman inquired where Cooper was wounded?
The reply was, "in the leg."
She remarked that he bled from the body, and on laying him down, it was ascertained that he had received a wound there, of which he soon after died.
About this time, several volunteers entered the fort, who had been pursued by the enemy.
Miss Vrooman stood near the entrance in an exposed situation, and Samuel Reynolds, as he entered, said to her - "Susannah, get away from here or you will be shot!"
The words were scarcely uttered before a ball entered his own head, of which wound he died nine days after.
He was from New Jersey: was a likely soldier, and died lamented.
Jeremiah Loucks was also wounded in one arm, and Tufts slightly in the head - the latter, while entering the fort - who, with the two mortally wounded, it is believed, were all that were injured belonging to the Middle fort.
The wounded were properly attended by Doct. John King, the settled physician at that place, who acted as surgeon during the war.
Nicholas Sloughter, who acquired the reputation of a good soldier, had a very sick child in the fort, and as he was leaving it, with a party of volunteers under Murphy, was told that his child appeared to be dying, and he had better remain.
"I can do the child no good," was his reply; "my duty is to protect the living as well as the dying."
Before his return, he and Murphy took a prisoner, dressed in a green uniform; who gave his name as Benjamin Butts.
He was a New England man, who had been made prisoner some time before, and while in Canada, had enlisted into the British service as a ranger, to embrace an opportunity to desert.
He returned home soon after.
During the siege of the Middle fort, a scout under Lieut. Martinus Zielie, captured a French Indian while stealing a horse owned by Harmanus Bouck.
Lewis Denny, a French Indian, nearly white, (mentioned as having scalped a squaw and afterwards married her,) joined the Americans in the Revolution, and remained at Middleburgh.
Being in the fort when Lieut. Zielie returned with his prisoner, the latter was so saucy, that Lewis, who could understand his insolent gibberish, instantly knocked him down.
This prisoner is said to have been an Indian interpreter.
Elerson had command of a few rangers during the day; one of whom, John Wilbur, fell in with a tory, catching a horse, near the present residence of Peter Swart, and asked him to what party he belonged?
He replied, "the Indian party;" and instantly received a bullet from Wilbur's rifle.
He took off his scalp, and as he entered the fort with it in his hand, Maj. Woolsey told him he ought to have his own scalp taken off.
This man and another, shot during the day were supposed to be Indians at the time, but proved to be Tories from the vicinity of Albany.
While Elerson was out with his party, he saw an Indian approaching the stacks at the barn near the fort, at whom he fired.
The warrior ran off towards the woods east of the barn.
In the following spring, a dead Indian was discovered in that direction, by Bill, a slave owned by John Becker, while getting fire-wood.
He was found sitting with his back against a tree, having his gun between his knees and resting in his arms.
His eyes had been dug out, as supposed, by birds.
This Indian was presumed to have been the one fired on by Elerson.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Destructionists were to be seen at this period of the siege, scattered over the flats in almost every direction.
The garrison was to weak to make a bold sortie, but many small parties were sent out during the day to harass the enemy, and save, if possible, a large barn belonging to John Becker, which stood almost in the direction of Col. Johnson's position: around which clustered numerous stacks of hay and grain.
As several Indians were seen approaching the barn, a party from the fort went to meet them.
Several shots were exchanged, and Sergeant Cooper, of Albany, received a wound in one leg; and was instantly borne off by two of his comrades to the fort: but while proceeding thither, he received a ball through his body, of which his carriers were unconscious.
As they entered the fort, Susannah Vrooman inquired where Cooper was wounded?
The reply was, "in the leg."
She remarked that he bled from the body, and on laying him down, it was ascertained that he had received a wound there, of which he soon after died.
About this time, several volunteers entered the fort, who had been pursued by the enemy.
Miss Vrooman stood near the entrance in an exposed situation, and Samuel Reynolds, as he entered, said to her - "Susannah, get away from here or you will be shot!"
The words were scarcely uttered before a ball entered his own head, of which wound he died nine days after.
He was from New Jersey: was a likely soldier, and died lamented.
Jeremiah Loucks was also wounded in one arm, and Tufts slightly in the head - the latter, while entering the fort - who, with the two mortally wounded, it is believed, were all that were injured belonging to the Middle fort.
The wounded were properly attended by Doct. John King, the settled physician at that place, who acted as surgeon during the war.
Nicholas Sloughter, who acquired the reputation of a good soldier, had a very sick child in the fort, and as he was leaving it, with a party of volunteers under Murphy, was told that his child appeared to be dying, and he had better remain.
"I can do the child no good," was his reply; "my duty is to protect the living as well as the dying."
Before his return, he and Murphy took a prisoner, dressed in a green uniform; who gave his name as Benjamin Butts.
He was a New England man, who had been made prisoner some time before, and while in Canada, had enlisted into the British service as a ranger, to embrace an opportunity to desert.
He returned home soon after.
During the siege of the Middle fort, a scout under Lieut. Martinus Zielie, captured a French Indian while stealing a horse owned by Harmanus Bouck.
Lewis Denny, a French Indian, nearly white, (mentioned as having scalped a squaw and afterwards married her,) joined the Americans in the Revolution, and remained at Middleburgh.
Being in the fort when Lieut. Zielie returned with his prisoner, the latter was so saucy, that Lewis, who could understand his insolent gibberish, instantly knocked him down.
This prisoner is said to have been an Indian interpreter.
Elerson had command of a few rangers during the day; one of whom, John Wilbur, fell in with a tory, catching a horse, near the present residence of Peter Swart, and asked him to what party he belonged?
He replied, "the Indian party;" and instantly received a bullet from Wilbur's rifle.
He took off his scalp, and as he entered the fort with it in his hand, Maj. Woolsey told him he ought to have his own scalp taken off.
This man and another, shot during the day were supposed to be Indians at the time, but proved to be Tories from the vicinity of Albany.
While Elerson was out with his party, he saw an Indian approaching the stacks at the barn near the fort, at whom he fired.
The warrior ran off towards the woods east of the barn.
In the following spring, a dead Indian was discovered in that direction, by Bill, a slave owned by John Becker, while getting fire-wood.
He was found sitting with his back against a tree, having his gun between his knees and resting in his arms.
His eyes had been dug out, as supposed, by birds.
This Indian was presumed to have been the one fired on by Elerson.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
We have seen that Murphy did not spare his rifle balls when the Middle fort was invested.
Needing an additional supply, Angelica Vrooman, as she informed the author, took Murphy's bullet mold, lead, and an iron spoon, went to her father's tent, and there molded a quantity of bullets for that fearless ranger, amidst the roar of cannon and musketry.
Jacob Winne, of Albany, was commissary at the Schoharie forts; occupying a part of the Becker house, two rooms in which are said to have accommodated five families each.
Samuel Van Vechten, of Albany was press-master, and Douw Fonda, forester, all of whom, it is believed, were in the Middle fort when besieged by the troop under Johnson.
The commissary was a little corned during the action, and finding Maj. Woolsey stowed away in one of the small family huts, bored him not a little.
Not only the commissary, but many others, some of whom were females, made themselves merry at the coward's expense, jeering and teasing him with perfect impunity.
Col. Johnson remained with the regular troops near the Middle fort, until his destructives had effectually demolished every species of property they possibly could in that vicinity, when he moved down the valley about 3 o'clock, P.M.
After the enemy were out of sight, Maj. Woolsey ordered several apple trees near to be cut down and brought around the fort, fearing the enemy might return and attempt to storm the works.
He left Schoharie the next day, and was never seen again leaping fences on horseback, in that delightful valley.
As may be supposed, the most intense anxiety was felt at the Upper, while the firing continued at the Middle fort; and soon after it began, Capt. Hager gave orders that in case the enemy appeared before that fort, the women and children should go into a long cellar under the Feeck house.
While preparations were in progress to resist an attack should it be made, Mary Haggidorn, a buxom lass of goodly proportions, who partook of the spirit which animated her brothers, and who had heard the cellar order with other feelings than those inspired by fear, stepped up to the commandant and thus addressed him: "Captain, I shall not go into that cellar!"
"Should the enemy come I will take a spear, which I can use as well as any man, and help defend the fort."
Capt. Hager was gratified to find a soldier where he little expected one, and admiring her fearless spirit, he replied, "Then take a spear, Mary, and be ready at the pickets to repel an attack!"
She did take a spear, nor was it discarded until the danger was past.
As soon as the firing ceased the second time at the fort below, Capt. Hager dispatched Ensign Peter Swart, William Zimmer, and Joseph Evans to learn whether their worst fears were to be realized - whether the British cross had taken the place of Freedom's stars.
On their return with the report that all was safe, the welkin rang with huzzas for the American flag.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Needing an additional supply, Angelica Vrooman, as she informed the author, took Murphy's bullet mold, lead, and an iron spoon, went to her father's tent, and there molded a quantity of bullets for that fearless ranger, amidst the roar of cannon and musketry.
Jacob Winne, of Albany, was commissary at the Schoharie forts; occupying a part of the Becker house, two rooms in which are said to have accommodated five families each.
Samuel Van Vechten, of Albany was press-master, and Douw Fonda, forester, all of whom, it is believed, were in the Middle fort when besieged by the troop under Johnson.
The commissary was a little corned during the action, and finding Maj. Woolsey stowed away in one of the small family huts, bored him not a little.
Not only the commissary, but many others, some of whom were females, made themselves merry at the coward's expense, jeering and teasing him with perfect impunity.
Col. Johnson remained with the regular troops near the Middle fort, until his destructives had effectually demolished every species of property they possibly could in that vicinity, when he moved down the valley about 3 o'clock, P.M.
After the enemy were out of sight, Maj. Woolsey ordered several apple trees near to be cut down and brought around the fort, fearing the enemy might return and attempt to storm the works.
He left Schoharie the next day, and was never seen again leaping fences on horseback, in that delightful valley.
As may be supposed, the most intense anxiety was felt at the Upper, while the firing continued at the Middle fort; and soon after it began, Capt. Hager gave orders that in case the enemy appeared before that fort, the women and children should go into a long cellar under the Feeck house.
While preparations were in progress to resist an attack should it be made, Mary Haggidorn, a buxom lass of goodly proportions, who partook of the spirit which animated her brothers, and who had heard the cellar order with other feelings than those inspired by fear, stepped up to the commandant and thus addressed him: "Captain, I shall not go into that cellar!"
"Should the enemy come I will take a spear, which I can use as well as any man, and help defend the fort."
Capt. Hager was gratified to find a soldier where he little expected one, and admiring her fearless spirit, he replied, "Then take a spear, Mary, and be ready at the pickets to repel an attack!"
She did take a spear, nor was it discarded until the danger was past.
As soon as the firing ceased the second time at the fort below, Capt. Hager dispatched Ensign Peter Swart, William Zimmer, and Joseph Evans to learn whether their worst fears were to be realized - whether the British cross had taken the place of Freedom's stars.
On their return with the report that all was safe, the welkin rang with huzzas for the American flag.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
What loss the besiegers sustained in their attack on the Middle fort is uncertain, but it is supposed to have been several times greater than that of the Americans.
Where had formerly stood the barn of Judge Borst, charred bones were found, supposed to have been those of several of their number which they had purposely burned.
What induced Sir John to abandon further attempts to take the fort is uncertain, but it is conjectured that from the firing on the flag he was led to suppose the troops were conscious of being able to defend it.
The enemy succeeded, during the day, in burning part of the grain which had been stacked near the fort for safety.
Maj. Becker had at his command at the Lower fort, on the arrival of Sir John Johnson in its vicinity, Capt. Stubrach with his company of militia, a part of the associate exempts under Captain Peter Snyder, (who succeeded Capt. Vrooman at his death,) and a body of Norman's-kill militia; making his effective force, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men. - Peter Vrooman 7
Early in the morning, Jacob Van Dyck, Anthony Brontner and Barney Cadugney were dispatched by Maj. Becker to ascertain the cause of the firing at the forts above.
Arriving at the house of Jacob J. Lawyer, they found his wife and a wench at home preparing to bake.
At the house of Hendrick Shafer, the females were also at home, where they saw food upon a table.
The women of those families chose to brave the dangers of the day, to save their dwellings from the general conflagration, while the men were in the fort below.
The scout proceeded as far as Bellinger's, and saw the British troops about a mile distant.
Near this place, they met the advance of the enemy, and were pursued by seven Indians led by Seth's Henry.
They were fired upon, and the balls struck near them.
A ball striking the fence by Cadugney's side, threw a splinter into his arm.
He called to his companions that he was wounded; and near the present residence of Peter Richtmyer, Van Dyck drew the splinter from his arm, telling him he was not hurt much: which he would hardly believe.
Gaining upon the Indians, who had halted to reload their pieces, Cadugney took occasion, as the latter were out of sight, to conceal himself in a hollow stump - near which they passed without discovering him.
When the firing ceased in the Middle fort for the flag to advance, the inmates of the fort below were apprehensive it had been taken, and Major Becker dispatched another scout, consisting of George Snyder, Jacob Enders, John Van Wart and John Hutt, to ascertain whether the fort had been captured.
The second scout met the first near where Storm Becker resides, and joined it in flight.
They were hotly pursed, and were obliged to scatter.
Enders and Snyder were together, and as the enemy were leveling a volley of balls at them, they sprang behind a rock, against which several of the leaden messengers spent their force.
Enders, who was fleet as an antelope, often took trees to favor the flight of his less speedy companions, which always treed the enemy.
Van Dyck struck off into the woods east of the residence of Jacob H. Shafer, again struck the flats below, and regained the fort in safety.
Enders and Snyder also arrived there before the enemy.
Van Wart (who is said to have put on his go-to-meeting hat before he left the fort,) had observed on his way up, several apple-pies just taken from the oven at Lawyer's, and not having had any breakfast, declared his intention of having some of the pie on his return.
He was warned not to stop; but disregarding the caution of his companions, as the enemy were not then in sight, he halted.
While he was eating, Westhoft, a German school teacher, who had been teaching school the preceding summer in Ingold's barn near by, opened the door and exclaimed: "Here they come!" as a party of Indians arrived at the house.
In the act of jumping from a back window, he was fired upon in front and rear, the enemy having already surrounded the house.
He was instantly dispatched, and his body much mutilated.
He was a Low Dutchman, born near Albany; was a cooper by trade, and had resided nine years in the Ingold family, near where he was shot.
7 He was a major of militia after the war. He married Angelica, daughter of Col. Peter Vrooman.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Where had formerly stood the barn of Judge Borst, charred bones were found, supposed to have been those of several of their number which they had purposely burned.
What induced Sir John to abandon further attempts to take the fort is uncertain, but it is conjectured that from the firing on the flag he was led to suppose the troops were conscious of being able to defend it.
The enemy succeeded, during the day, in burning part of the grain which had been stacked near the fort for safety.
Maj. Becker had at his command at the Lower fort, on the arrival of Sir John Johnson in its vicinity, Capt. Stubrach with his company of militia, a part of the associate exempts under Captain Peter Snyder, (who succeeded Capt. Vrooman at his death,) and a body of Norman's-kill militia; making his effective force, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men. - Peter Vrooman 7
Early in the morning, Jacob Van Dyck, Anthony Brontner and Barney Cadugney were dispatched by Maj. Becker to ascertain the cause of the firing at the forts above.
Arriving at the house of Jacob J. Lawyer, they found his wife and a wench at home preparing to bake.
At the house of Hendrick Shafer, the females were also at home, where they saw food upon a table.
The women of those families chose to brave the dangers of the day, to save their dwellings from the general conflagration, while the men were in the fort below.
The scout proceeded as far as Bellinger's, and saw the British troops about a mile distant.
Near this place, they met the advance of the enemy, and were pursued by seven Indians led by Seth's Henry.
They were fired upon, and the balls struck near them.
A ball striking the fence by Cadugney's side, threw a splinter into his arm.
He called to his companions that he was wounded; and near the present residence of Peter Richtmyer, Van Dyck drew the splinter from his arm, telling him he was not hurt much: which he would hardly believe.
Gaining upon the Indians, who had halted to reload their pieces, Cadugney took occasion, as the latter were out of sight, to conceal himself in a hollow stump - near which they passed without discovering him.
When the firing ceased in the Middle fort for the flag to advance, the inmates of the fort below were apprehensive it had been taken, and Major Becker dispatched another scout, consisting of George Snyder, Jacob Enders, John Van Wart and John Hutt, to ascertain whether the fort had been captured.
The second scout met the first near where Storm Becker resides, and joined it in flight.
They were hotly pursed, and were obliged to scatter.
Enders and Snyder were together, and as the enemy were leveling a volley of balls at them, they sprang behind a rock, against which several of the leaden messengers spent their force.
Enders, who was fleet as an antelope, often took trees to favor the flight of his less speedy companions, which always treed the enemy.
Van Dyck struck off into the woods east of the residence of Jacob H. Shafer, again struck the flats below, and regained the fort in safety.
Enders and Snyder also arrived there before the enemy.
Van Wart (who is said to have put on his go-to-meeting hat before he left the fort,) had observed on his way up, several apple-pies just taken from the oven at Lawyer's, and not having had any breakfast, declared his intention of having some of the pie on his return.
He was warned not to stop; but disregarding the caution of his companions, as the enemy were not then in sight, he halted.
While he was eating, Westhoft, a German school teacher, who had been teaching school the preceding summer in Ingold's barn near by, opened the door and exclaimed: "Here they come!" as a party of Indians arrived at the house.
In the act of jumping from a back window, he was fired upon in front and rear, the enemy having already surrounded the house.
He was instantly dispatched, and his body much mutilated.
He was a Low Dutchman, born near Albany; was a cooper by trade, and had resided nine years in the Ingold family, near where he was shot.
7 He was a major of militia after the war. He married Angelica, daughter of Col. Peter Vrooman.
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Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
As the Indians entered Lawyer's dwelling, one of them raised a tomahawk to strike the schoolteacher, but Mrs. Lawyer seized his arm and arrested the fatal blow.
She pleaded for his life and it was spared, adding another evidence to the influence of woman.
Brett, an old female slave, was considered a lawful prize, and was taken along a little distance, but was finally permitted to return. - Anna Eve, widow of Jacob J. Lawyer 8
John Ingold, who dwelt where his son and namesake now resides, was in the fort that day with all his family except Anthony Witner, his step-father.
As a hostile invasion was expected, the present John Ingold, then a lad fourteen years old, went the evening before with a wagon to take old Mr. Witner to the fort, but he declined going, and said he chose to stay and defend his house.
He had given his grandson an old gun which was then at the fort; this he requested to have sent to him in the morning.
The Ingold dwelling was burned, and as a part of two skeletons were found in its ruins, it was conjectured that a plunderer had been killed by Mr. Witner, before his death.
The remains of the latter were identified by his silver knee-buckles.
A barrack filled with peas, standing scarcely three yards distant from Ingold's barn, was set on fire and the enemy supposed from its proximity it would burn the latter; but as the former stood west of the building and the wind blew a gale from the northeast, the fire was fortunately not communicated to it.
A fence on fire and slowly burning to the windward, which would have carried the flame to the barn, was extinguished after the enemy left.
The dwelling of Hendrick Shafer was not burned, that of Tunis Shafer, which stood where David Shafer lives, was burnt with its out buildings; and that of Lawyer, below Ingold's, shared the same fate the night following. - John Ingold, Mattice Ball, and others.
The firing at Middleburgh was heard in Cobelskill, ten miles distant, and Lawrence Lawyer and Henry Shafer proceeded towards Schoharie, to learn the cause.
Arriving on the hills near, they caught a view of the general conflagration; and they unexpectedly fell in with a party of Indians, but escaped their notice by the timely movement of several cattle in the woods close by, which directed the enemy from their concealment.
The two friends remained secreted until the Indians had retired, when they hastened back to Cobelskill, to warn the citizens of their danger. - Lawrence Lawyer.
8 Mrs. Lawyer stated to the writer, in 1835, that while her husband and a hired man were harvesting grain during the war, they were fired upon by the enemy, and the laborer killed; the former fled across the river and escaped. Mrs. Lawyer was a daughter of Philip and Christina Berg. She had two children, a son and daughter. The latter is now the wife of Ex-Gov. Bouck.
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She pleaded for his life and it was spared, adding another evidence to the influence of woman.
Brett, an old female slave, was considered a lawful prize, and was taken along a little distance, but was finally permitted to return. - Anna Eve, widow of Jacob J. Lawyer 8
John Ingold, who dwelt where his son and namesake now resides, was in the fort that day with all his family except Anthony Witner, his step-father.
As a hostile invasion was expected, the present John Ingold, then a lad fourteen years old, went the evening before with a wagon to take old Mr. Witner to the fort, but he declined going, and said he chose to stay and defend his house.
He had given his grandson an old gun which was then at the fort; this he requested to have sent to him in the morning.
The Ingold dwelling was burned, and as a part of two skeletons were found in its ruins, it was conjectured that a plunderer had been killed by Mr. Witner, before his death.
The remains of the latter were identified by his silver knee-buckles.
A barrack filled with peas, standing scarcely three yards distant from Ingold's barn, was set on fire and the enemy supposed from its proximity it would burn the latter; but as the former stood west of the building and the wind blew a gale from the northeast, the fire was fortunately not communicated to it.
A fence on fire and slowly burning to the windward, which would have carried the flame to the barn, was extinguished after the enemy left.
The dwelling of Hendrick Shafer was not burned, that of Tunis Shafer, which stood where David Shafer lives, was burnt with its out buildings; and that of Lawyer, below Ingold's, shared the same fate the night following. - John Ingold, Mattice Ball, and others.
The firing at Middleburgh was heard in Cobelskill, ten miles distant, and Lawrence Lawyer and Henry Shafer proceeded towards Schoharie, to learn the cause.
Arriving on the hills near, they caught a view of the general conflagration; and they unexpectedly fell in with a party of Indians, but escaped their notice by the timely movement of several cattle in the woods close by, which directed the enemy from their concealment.
The two friends remained secreted until the Indians had retired, when they hastened back to Cobelskill, to warn the citizens of their danger. - Lawrence Lawyer.
8 Mrs. Lawyer stated to the writer, in 1835, that while her husband and a hired man were harvesting grain during the war, they were fired upon by the enemy, and the laborer killed; the former fled across the river and escaped. Mrs. Lawyer was a daughter of Philip and Christina Berg. She had two children, a son and daughter. The latter is now the wife of Ex-Gov. Bouck.
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Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Johnson's troops had been so long in the valley, that ample time was gained to get every thing in readiness at the Lower fort, for its defense.
Several barrels of water were provided to extinguish the church, which contained the women and children, should it be set on fire.
The magazine which was thus liberally replenished, was kept beneath the pulpit in the church, and was under the charge of Dr. George Werth, a physician, settled in the vicinity, who acted as surgeon.
In the tower of the church were stationed, under Ensign Jacob Lawyer, jr., fifteen or twenty good marksmen, who could command considerable territory.
Quite a number of fearless women at the Lower fort are said to have stood ready at the pickets, when the enemy appeared in sight, armed with spears, pitchforks, poles, &c., 9 to repel an attack. - Maj. Peter Vrooman, Col. Dietz, of Beaver Dam, Jacob Becker, Judge Brown and others.
The enemy approached the Lower fort in a body, about four o'clock P.M., and were saluted with a small mounted cannon without the palisades, (the one formerly owned by John Lawyer,) charged with grape and canister shot.
Col. Johnson raised a spy-glass as the swivel was drawn out, and suddenly lowering it, said to his men, It is only a grass-hopper, march on!
It was supposed to have done fearful execution, as many of the enemy fell, but to the surprise of the Americans, they arose and advanced; having only fallen to let the shot pass over them.
A grape shot entered the knapsack of a soldier, and lodged against a pair of shoes.
He was more frightened than hurt, and carried the shot to Canada.
The American soldiers were hardly able to obtain shoes, and this Canadian had an extra new pair, which saved his life. - Becker, Van Dyck, Vrooman, and Dietz.
Jacob Van Dyck, Nicholas Warner, Jacob Becker, John Ingold, Sen., and John Kneiskern, were among the men stationed with Lawyer in the church tower.
When Capt. Stubrach and others were firing the "grass-hopper," Peter, a brother of Ensign Lawyer, who had command of the men on the church, was seen to approach the fort from the direction of the river, in advance of the enemy.
He proceeded to the tower, and held a secret conference with his brother, soon after which they both left the fort together, and did not return until the invaders were out of sight.
The conduct of the ensign subjected him to some censure at the time - indeed, it needs an explanation at the present day.
Hearing that his ensign had deserted his station, which was too commanding not to be properly occupied, Capt. Snyder immediately took charge of the men, who rendered good services by their skill as marksmen. - Becker, Van Dyck, and Warner.
The enemy, when fired upon, filed off, the regulars, under Johnson, to the west, and the Indians, under Brant, to the east.
The former crossed the flats, between the fort and the river, and did not halt until after they had passed Foxes creek, below the old sawmill.
They were several times fired upon from a block-house, upon that side, which mounted a six-pounder, charged with grape and canister, but with what effect is unknown.
Most of the Indians crossed Foxes creek in a body, but a few stragglers lingered to burn buildings.
The wood-work of Tunis Swart's tavern, the present residence of Lodowick Fries, was burned.
The parsonage, which stood some twenty rods east of the present one, was not consumed.
A house now standing on a knoll some thirty rods southeast of the church, was occupied in 1780 by the widow of Domine Schuyler, and one of her sons.
It was erected one and a half stories, with a gambrel roof, but was altered to its present form after the war.
About the time Swart's dwelling was fired, an Indian was seen approaching this house with a fire-brand.
Several rifles were instantly discharged at him from the tower, and he sprang behind the trunk of an apple-tree, which is still to be seen.
Five balls struck the tree as he sprang behind it.
No more was seen of the Indian, who abandoned the attempt to burn the house. - Nicholas Warner and Jacob Becker.
This apple-tree has an antiquated look, stands alone, and I really hope that the "Woodman will spare that tree!"
9 Judge Brown, who was accounted a genuine Whig, was suspected, though unjustly I believe, of disaffection on the day Schoharie was burnt. He stated to the writer, that he was at the Lower fort on the morning of that day, and aided in the early preparations for its defense; and had intended to volunteer his services in case of a hostile attack. His wife was determined to go to Livingston's manor, where she had relatives; and to set out that day. She went out and seated herself in the wagon, outside the pickets; and declared her intention to remain there and be shot rather than again enter the fort, where she had already been over two years. Brown said he felt ashamed to be seen quarreling with his wife - reluctantly yielded to her wishes - entered the wagon and drove off. The smoke of burning buildings was then visible up the valley. This I consider another specimen of female influence.
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Several barrels of water were provided to extinguish the church, which contained the women and children, should it be set on fire.
The magazine which was thus liberally replenished, was kept beneath the pulpit in the church, and was under the charge of Dr. George Werth, a physician, settled in the vicinity, who acted as surgeon.
In the tower of the church were stationed, under Ensign Jacob Lawyer, jr., fifteen or twenty good marksmen, who could command considerable territory.
Quite a number of fearless women at the Lower fort are said to have stood ready at the pickets, when the enemy appeared in sight, armed with spears, pitchforks, poles, &c., 9 to repel an attack. - Maj. Peter Vrooman, Col. Dietz, of Beaver Dam, Jacob Becker, Judge Brown and others.
The enemy approached the Lower fort in a body, about four o'clock P.M., and were saluted with a small mounted cannon without the palisades, (the one formerly owned by John Lawyer,) charged with grape and canister shot.
Col. Johnson raised a spy-glass as the swivel was drawn out, and suddenly lowering it, said to his men, It is only a grass-hopper, march on!
It was supposed to have done fearful execution, as many of the enemy fell, but to the surprise of the Americans, they arose and advanced; having only fallen to let the shot pass over them.
A grape shot entered the knapsack of a soldier, and lodged against a pair of shoes.
He was more frightened than hurt, and carried the shot to Canada.
The American soldiers were hardly able to obtain shoes, and this Canadian had an extra new pair, which saved his life. - Becker, Van Dyck, Vrooman, and Dietz.
Jacob Van Dyck, Nicholas Warner, Jacob Becker, John Ingold, Sen., and John Kneiskern, were among the men stationed with Lawyer in the church tower.
When Capt. Stubrach and others were firing the "grass-hopper," Peter, a brother of Ensign Lawyer, who had command of the men on the church, was seen to approach the fort from the direction of the river, in advance of the enemy.
He proceeded to the tower, and held a secret conference with his brother, soon after which they both left the fort together, and did not return until the invaders were out of sight.
The conduct of the ensign subjected him to some censure at the time - indeed, it needs an explanation at the present day.
Hearing that his ensign had deserted his station, which was too commanding not to be properly occupied, Capt. Snyder immediately took charge of the men, who rendered good services by their skill as marksmen. - Becker, Van Dyck, and Warner.
The enemy, when fired upon, filed off, the regulars, under Johnson, to the west, and the Indians, under Brant, to the east.
The former crossed the flats, between the fort and the river, and did not halt until after they had passed Foxes creek, below the old sawmill.
They were several times fired upon from a block-house, upon that side, which mounted a six-pounder, charged with grape and canister, but with what effect is unknown.
Most of the Indians crossed Foxes creek in a body, but a few stragglers lingered to burn buildings.
The wood-work of Tunis Swart's tavern, the present residence of Lodowick Fries, was burned.
The parsonage, which stood some twenty rods east of the present one, was not consumed.
A house now standing on a knoll some thirty rods southeast of the church, was occupied in 1780 by the widow of Domine Schuyler, and one of her sons.
It was erected one and a half stories, with a gambrel roof, but was altered to its present form after the war.
About the time Swart's dwelling was fired, an Indian was seen approaching this house with a fire-brand.
Several rifles were instantly discharged at him from the tower, and he sprang behind the trunk of an apple-tree, which is still to be seen.
Five balls struck the tree as he sprang behind it.
No more was seen of the Indian, who abandoned the attempt to burn the house. - Nicholas Warner and Jacob Becker.
This apple-tree has an antiquated look, stands alone, and I really hope that the "Woodman will spare that tree!"
9 Judge Brown, who was accounted a genuine Whig, was suspected, though unjustly I believe, of disaffection on the day Schoharie was burnt. He stated to the writer, that he was at the Lower fort on the morning of that day, and aided in the early preparations for its defense; and had intended to volunteer his services in case of a hostile attack. His wife was determined to go to Livingston's manor, where she had relatives; and to set out that day. She went out and seated herself in the wagon, outside the pickets; and declared her intention to remain there and be shot rather than again enter the fort, where she had already been over two years. Brown said he felt ashamed to be seen quarreling with his wife - reluctantly yielded to her wishes - entered the wagon and drove off. The smoke of burning buildings was then visible up the valley. This I consider another specimen of female influence.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
I have said Col. Johnson halted after crossing Foxes creek.
Preparations were now made to give the Americans a passing salute - the gun carriage was screwed together, and the gun placed upon it.
At this time it was supposed by the men in the tower, from the ease with which the gun was carried and the manner of its transportation in a wagon, to be a "peeled log," placed with the design of frightening its inmates to surrender the fort.
On applying the linstock it twice flashed, and the Americans were the more confirmed in their opinion that the foe was "playing possum" - but the third application of the match was followed by a peal of war's thunder, which sent a ball through one side of the roof of the church, and lodged it in a heavy rafter on the opposite side.
The shock jarred the whole building.
A second discharge of the enemy's gun lodged a ball in the purlin-plate; and the hole made by its entrance is visible at the present day. - Jacob Becker, and Cyrus Clark, corroborated by others 10
While the enemy were discharging their cannon, rum sweetened with gun-powder was carried round in a pail to the soldiers, by Mrs. Snyder, to divest them of fear.
This was a common beverage in former times, when hostile armies were about to conflict.
The liquor was thought to embolden, while the powder maddened the warrior.
As she presented the glass to the soldiers at the pickets, the hands of some trembled so as scarcely to hold it. - Peter M. Snyder.
While the enemy were firing on the church, an Indian crept behind an elm tree on the bank of the creek northwest of it, and lodged three rifle balls in the tower.
They struck nearly in the same spot over head, but the first two were not buried sufficiently deep to remain, and fell upon the deck, one of which was taken up by John Kneiskern, but found it too hot to be retained.
By removing part of the paling, a rifle was brought to bear on the presumptuous foe.
As he showed part of his face, to try a fourth shot, a marksman planted a bullet in the tree near his head, when he decamped in hot haste. - Jacob Becker, and Jacob Van Dyck.
The enemy made but a short stay near the Lower fort.
Brant, after burning the tavern and out building of Jacob Snyder, and those of some other citizens along Foxes creek, came into the river road a few rods north west of the Brick House of Capt. Mann.
This house was two stories in the Revolution, but was razed a story some time after.
Brant was joined on the rise of ground above Mann's, by the regulars under Johnson, who made a little show of giving another salute; but a shower of rifle balls from the church tower, with several successive and well directed discharges of grape-shot, from the block-house in the north east corner of the enclosure, caused him to move down the valley.
A dwelling and grist mill standing near the fort, (where those of Griggs now are,) were set on fire, but extinguished after the enemy left.
The barn and other out buildings were consumed. - P. M. Snyder, Maj. P. Vrooman and Jacob Becker.
Whether the enemy sustained any loss in their attack on the Lower fort is unknown.
If any had been killed, their bodies were no doubt consumed in some of the burning buildings in Kneiskern's dorf.
10 Not many years ago, a new covering was put upon the church by Mr. Clark, who states that the cannon shot lodged in the western plate in 1780, was then taken out and presented to John Gebbard, Esq. of Schoharie; and the one from the rafter to P. M. Snyder, in consequence of the intrepidity of Snyder's mother when the balls were lodged. This relic was presented the writer by Mr. Snyder in 1837. It weighs a little over six pounds.
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Preparations were now made to give the Americans a passing salute - the gun carriage was screwed together, and the gun placed upon it.
At this time it was supposed by the men in the tower, from the ease with which the gun was carried and the manner of its transportation in a wagon, to be a "peeled log," placed with the design of frightening its inmates to surrender the fort.
On applying the linstock it twice flashed, and the Americans were the more confirmed in their opinion that the foe was "playing possum" - but the third application of the match was followed by a peal of war's thunder, which sent a ball through one side of the roof of the church, and lodged it in a heavy rafter on the opposite side.
The shock jarred the whole building.
A second discharge of the enemy's gun lodged a ball in the purlin-plate; and the hole made by its entrance is visible at the present day. - Jacob Becker, and Cyrus Clark, corroborated by others 10
While the enemy were discharging their cannon, rum sweetened with gun-powder was carried round in a pail to the soldiers, by Mrs. Snyder, to divest them of fear.
This was a common beverage in former times, when hostile armies were about to conflict.
The liquor was thought to embolden, while the powder maddened the warrior.
As she presented the glass to the soldiers at the pickets, the hands of some trembled so as scarcely to hold it. - Peter M. Snyder.
While the enemy were firing on the church, an Indian crept behind an elm tree on the bank of the creek northwest of it, and lodged three rifle balls in the tower.
They struck nearly in the same spot over head, but the first two were not buried sufficiently deep to remain, and fell upon the deck, one of which was taken up by John Kneiskern, but found it too hot to be retained.
By removing part of the paling, a rifle was brought to bear on the presumptuous foe.
As he showed part of his face, to try a fourth shot, a marksman planted a bullet in the tree near his head, when he decamped in hot haste. - Jacob Becker, and Jacob Van Dyck.
The enemy made but a short stay near the Lower fort.
Brant, after burning the tavern and out building of Jacob Snyder, and those of some other citizens along Foxes creek, came into the river road a few rods north west of the Brick House of Capt. Mann.
This house was two stories in the Revolution, but was razed a story some time after.
Brant was joined on the rise of ground above Mann's, by the regulars under Johnson, who made a little show of giving another salute; but a shower of rifle balls from the church tower, with several successive and well directed discharges of grape-shot, from the block-house in the north east corner of the enclosure, caused him to move down the valley.
A dwelling and grist mill standing near the fort, (where those of Griggs now are,) were set on fire, but extinguished after the enemy left.
The barn and other out buildings were consumed. - P. M. Snyder, Maj. P. Vrooman and Jacob Becker.
Whether the enemy sustained any loss in their attack on the Lower fort is unknown.
If any had been killed, their bodies were no doubt consumed in some of the burning buildings in Kneiskern's dorf.
10 Not many years ago, a new covering was put upon the church by Mr. Clark, who states that the cannon shot lodged in the western plate in 1780, was then taken out and presented to John Gebbard, Esq. of Schoharie; and the one from the rafter to P. M. Snyder, in consequence of the intrepidity of Snyder's mother when the balls were lodged. This relic was presented the writer by Mr. Snyder in 1837. It weighs a little over six pounds.
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Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
At an interview with Jacob Enders, the soldier previously mentioned, he related the following incident.
After the enemy began to move down the valley, he left the fort to hang upon his rear.
Discovering an Indian, he followed him along the creek toward the river, until he got a shot at him.
He had on a large pack, and over one shoulder hung a goose, he had recently killed.
When Enders fired, the Indian fell upon his knees, and dropped his pack and goose; then springing upon his feet, he set off on a moderate trot toward the river.
Enders pursed until the Indian turned and raised his rifle on him, when he halted to load, and the Indian without firing, again ran off.
After pursuing until he was exposed to the fire of others of the enemy, Enders gave over the chase.
On arriving where he had left the pack and goose, he found that John Rickard, a fellow soldier, who had seen the spoils abandoned from his position in the block-house, had been there and taken them to the fort.
Enders claimed them, but Rickard would not give them up, or any part of them.
The pack contained eight pairs of new moccasins.
On the day Schoharie was burned, three soldiers, Abraham Bergh, Jacob Kneiskern, and one Grenadare, with several other persons, were returning to the Lower fort with three head of fat cattle for that garrison; and on arriving near the present residence of Daniel Larkin, they discovered the advance of the enemy, and drove the cattle into the adjoining woods.
The citizens made good their retreat, and the soldiers secreted themselves to watch the motions of the enemy.
They observed a small party of Indians approach Mercle's place, on the Ferry road.
The trio succeeded in getting within gun shot of the party, and as the latter were at a pump, fired upon them, killing one of their numbers with a buckshot.
The Americans then made good their retreat, and reached the fort in safety. - David, a son of Abr. Bergh.
Having executed his mission in Schoharie so far as he found it practicable, Sir John Johnson encamped for the night near Harman Sidney's, the present residence of John C. Van Vechten, nearly six miles north of the Lower fort.
A noble deer confined in a pen at Sidney's, which he was fattening with no little care of his own use, was killed and feasted on by the enemy.
Some soldiers at work for its owner a few days before, wanted to kill the animal then, but he chose to reserve it for another occasion.
In the morning, Col. Johnson sank his mortar and shells in a morass, and directed his course to Fort Hunter.
One of the shells was recovered some weeks open in mud knee deep; and on being broken open it was found to contain dry powder, which was divided among the victors. - Col. Deitz, William Becker, and Jacob Enders.
After Sir John Johnson passed the Lower fort, George Meriness was dispatched to Albany by Maj. Becker, with intelligence of his invasion, and success in Schoharie. - William Snyder.
That beautiful valley, on the evening after the invasion, presented a most gloomy picture.
Ruin and desolation followed in the train of the foe, and many a man who had risen in the morning in comfortable, if not in affluent circumstances, found himself in the evening houseless, and almost ruined in property.
His barns and barracks which the morning light had disclosed well filled with the rich reward of his season's labors, were so many heaps of smoldering ruins.
His cattle, horses and swine, which had grazed "upon a thousand hills," either lay dead in the adjoining fields, or had been taken by the ravagers: while some of his fences had been burned and others demolished.
Thus was revenged the destruction of the Indian possessions in the Chemung and Genesee valleys the year before by Gen. Sullivan; which had they a historian, would be found a no less gloomy picture.
Scarcely a log house at that early day was to be seen in the Schoharie valley: the dwellings were mostly good framed buildings, well finished and some of them painted.
But here and there a building, from some cause, escaped the devouring element, to render the general ruin the more obvious.
The dwelling of Peter Rickard was set on fire, and after the enemy had left it, an old Negro, owned by John Lawyer, went to it from his concealment in the woods near, found a quantity of milk on the premises, and with that extinguished the flames.
The house of one of his neighbors was also set on fire and put out. - Andrew Loucks.
It is possible one or two other houses may have escaped the general conflagration under somewhat similar circumstances.
Several families residing on the uplands, east of the Court House, remained at home undisturbed by the enemy. - Eleanor, widow of Nicholas Feeck.
Henry Haines, jr., of New Dorlach, who was with the enemy in the Schoharie valley, on the evening after its conflagration, arrived at the Lower fort, and inquired for John Rickard, his half brother, who was a Whig.
Haines had burned his feet so badly in plundering a building on fire, that he could not travel; and claimed the sympathy of his kinsman.
Rickard pitied the wretch and concealed him in his hut for several days under lock and key, to keep him from the revenge of his injured fellow countrymen; allowing him possibly, to pick the bones of Enders' goose. - Peggy Ingold, corroborated.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
After the enemy began to move down the valley, he left the fort to hang upon his rear.
Discovering an Indian, he followed him along the creek toward the river, until he got a shot at him.
He had on a large pack, and over one shoulder hung a goose, he had recently killed.
When Enders fired, the Indian fell upon his knees, and dropped his pack and goose; then springing upon his feet, he set off on a moderate trot toward the river.
Enders pursed until the Indian turned and raised his rifle on him, when he halted to load, and the Indian without firing, again ran off.
After pursuing until he was exposed to the fire of others of the enemy, Enders gave over the chase.
On arriving where he had left the pack and goose, he found that John Rickard, a fellow soldier, who had seen the spoils abandoned from his position in the block-house, had been there and taken them to the fort.
Enders claimed them, but Rickard would not give them up, or any part of them.
The pack contained eight pairs of new moccasins.
On the day Schoharie was burned, three soldiers, Abraham Bergh, Jacob Kneiskern, and one Grenadare, with several other persons, were returning to the Lower fort with three head of fat cattle for that garrison; and on arriving near the present residence of Daniel Larkin, they discovered the advance of the enemy, and drove the cattle into the adjoining woods.
The citizens made good their retreat, and the soldiers secreted themselves to watch the motions of the enemy.
They observed a small party of Indians approach Mercle's place, on the Ferry road.
The trio succeeded in getting within gun shot of the party, and as the latter were at a pump, fired upon them, killing one of their numbers with a buckshot.
The Americans then made good their retreat, and reached the fort in safety. - David, a son of Abr. Bergh.
Having executed his mission in Schoharie so far as he found it practicable, Sir John Johnson encamped for the night near Harman Sidney's, the present residence of John C. Van Vechten, nearly six miles north of the Lower fort.
A noble deer confined in a pen at Sidney's, which he was fattening with no little care of his own use, was killed and feasted on by the enemy.
Some soldiers at work for its owner a few days before, wanted to kill the animal then, but he chose to reserve it for another occasion.
In the morning, Col. Johnson sank his mortar and shells in a morass, and directed his course to Fort Hunter.
One of the shells was recovered some weeks open in mud knee deep; and on being broken open it was found to contain dry powder, which was divided among the victors. - Col. Deitz, William Becker, and Jacob Enders.
After Sir John Johnson passed the Lower fort, George Meriness was dispatched to Albany by Maj. Becker, with intelligence of his invasion, and success in Schoharie. - William Snyder.
That beautiful valley, on the evening after the invasion, presented a most gloomy picture.
Ruin and desolation followed in the train of the foe, and many a man who had risen in the morning in comfortable, if not in affluent circumstances, found himself in the evening houseless, and almost ruined in property.
His barns and barracks which the morning light had disclosed well filled with the rich reward of his season's labors, were so many heaps of smoldering ruins.
His cattle, horses and swine, which had grazed "upon a thousand hills," either lay dead in the adjoining fields, or had been taken by the ravagers: while some of his fences had been burned and others demolished.
Thus was revenged the destruction of the Indian possessions in the Chemung and Genesee valleys the year before by Gen. Sullivan; which had they a historian, would be found a no less gloomy picture.
Scarcely a log house at that early day was to be seen in the Schoharie valley: the dwellings were mostly good framed buildings, well finished and some of them painted.
But here and there a building, from some cause, escaped the devouring element, to render the general ruin the more obvious.
The dwelling of Peter Rickard was set on fire, and after the enemy had left it, an old Negro, owned by John Lawyer, went to it from his concealment in the woods near, found a quantity of milk on the premises, and with that extinguished the flames.
The house of one of his neighbors was also set on fire and put out. - Andrew Loucks.
It is possible one or two other houses may have escaped the general conflagration under somewhat similar circumstances.
Several families residing on the uplands, east of the Court House, remained at home undisturbed by the enemy. - Eleanor, widow of Nicholas Feeck.
Henry Haines, jr., of New Dorlach, who was with the enemy in the Schoharie valley, on the evening after its conflagration, arrived at the Lower fort, and inquired for John Rickard, his half brother, who was a Whig.
Haines had burned his feet so badly in plundering a building on fire, that he could not travel; and claimed the sympathy of his kinsman.
Rickard pitied the wretch and concealed him in his hut for several days under lock and key, to keep him from the revenge of his injured fellow countrymen; allowing him possibly, to pick the bones of Enders' goose. - Peggy Ingold, corroborated.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: ON THE ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
CHAPTER XIV
On the morning of October 18th, Col.Vrooman, collecting what troops could be spared from the three forts, pursued the retreating foe.
He hung upon his rear all the way to the Mohawk valley, and by a timely movement circumscribed his burning footsteps. -- Jacob Becker, Nicholas Warner, and David Zeh.
The fire and smoke of the burning buildings in the lower part of Schoharie, fifteen or twenty miles distant, were distinctly seen at the residence of Cornelius Putman, on the Schoharie, about a mile from its junction with the Mohawk. -- Peter, a son of Cornelius Putman, who lives on the paternal farm.
On the following morning, Victor, a son of Cornelius Putman, and Garret, a son of Cornelius Newkirk, proceeded on horseback from the vicinity of Fort Hunter in the direction of Schoharie, to discover the cause of the light seen the previous afternoon, and learn if a foe was approaching the Mohawk.
They fell in with the enemy's advance on the Oak Ridge, a few miles from their last encampment, retreated, were hotly pursued, and Newkirk made captive.
The timely return of his companion, however, who borrowed a horse of William Hall, a pioneer settler, (having been obliged to abandon his own,) enabled several families in the neighborhood to make good their escape, or guard against surprise and capture.
At this period dwellings had been erected by Richard Hoff and Marcus Hand, on the west side of Schoharie, some four miles from Fort Hunter, in the present town of Glen.
Those houses were plundered and burnt by the Indians under Brant.
The family of Hoff escaped captivity by flight, and Hand was in Florida at the time.
Cornelius Putman removed his family into the woods, and secreted a part of his most valuable effects before the enemy appeared in sight.
His neighbors, Cornelius and John Newkirk, brothers, who lived on the east side of the river, also secreted a part of their property, and their families escaped, except William, a son of the latter, and three or four slaves, who had lingered a little too long at the house, and were captured.
The enemy did not fire any buildings in the valley, until they had been there some time.
Putman, after securing his effects, secreted himself, with a loaded gun, near his house, and saw the first Indian enter upon his premises.
He went into the barn and brought out his arms full of tobacco (most of the farmers then raised a patch of the plant) which he laid down and began twisting into suitable hanks; and as often as made, thrust into his blanket above the belt which encircled his waist.
Putman several times drew up his gun to fire on the Indian, but when he reflected that he would doubtless be pursued, and his fight might lead not only to his own, but to the death of his family, and the destruction or plunder of his concealed property, he desisted from firing.
From his retreat, however, he watched the motions of the enemy for hours.
A party entered his house, and among the spoils brought from the cellar a keeler full of eggs, which they took to the kitchen, a little building detached from the dwelling, where they made a fire, boiled, and divided them.
He saw them rob his bee-hives, and a part of the robbers sit down and feast upon the dainty product of the insect's labor.
Soon after this a gun was fired, which was the signal for applying the incendiary torch, and one of the party, in Putman's presence, after swinging a fire-brand several times over his head until it blazed, applied it to the well-filled barns which were soon in flames.
The house was set on fire, and several of the party fired their guns into a number of stacks and barracks of grain near, and all were soon reduced to a heap of ruins.
The dwellings and out-buildings of the Newkirk's were also set on fire at the given signal, and soon shared the same fate. --Peter Putman, Ab'm V., son of Victor Putnam, and John, son of Marcus Hand.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
On the morning of October 18th, Col.Vrooman, collecting what troops could be spared from the three forts, pursued the retreating foe.
He hung upon his rear all the way to the Mohawk valley, and by a timely movement circumscribed his burning footsteps. -- Jacob Becker, Nicholas Warner, and David Zeh.
The fire and smoke of the burning buildings in the lower part of Schoharie, fifteen or twenty miles distant, were distinctly seen at the residence of Cornelius Putman, on the Schoharie, about a mile from its junction with the Mohawk. -- Peter, a son of Cornelius Putman, who lives on the paternal farm.
On the following morning, Victor, a son of Cornelius Putman, and Garret, a son of Cornelius Newkirk, proceeded on horseback from the vicinity of Fort Hunter in the direction of Schoharie, to discover the cause of the light seen the previous afternoon, and learn if a foe was approaching the Mohawk.
They fell in with the enemy's advance on the Oak Ridge, a few miles from their last encampment, retreated, were hotly pursued, and Newkirk made captive.
The timely return of his companion, however, who borrowed a horse of William Hall, a pioneer settler, (having been obliged to abandon his own,) enabled several families in the neighborhood to make good their escape, or guard against surprise and capture.
At this period dwellings had been erected by Richard Hoff and Marcus Hand, on the west side of Schoharie, some four miles from Fort Hunter, in the present town of Glen.
Those houses were plundered and burnt by the Indians under Brant.
The family of Hoff escaped captivity by flight, and Hand was in Florida at the time.
Cornelius Putman removed his family into the woods, and secreted a part of his most valuable effects before the enemy appeared in sight.
His neighbors, Cornelius and John Newkirk, brothers, who lived on the east side of the river, also secreted a part of their property, and their families escaped, except William, a son of the latter, and three or four slaves, who had lingered a little too long at the house, and were captured.
The enemy did not fire any buildings in the valley, until they had been there some time.
Putman, after securing his effects, secreted himself, with a loaded gun, near his house, and saw the first Indian enter upon his premises.
He went into the barn and brought out his arms full of tobacco (most of the farmers then raised a patch of the plant) which he laid down and began twisting into suitable hanks; and as often as made, thrust into his blanket above the belt which encircled his waist.
Putman several times drew up his gun to fire on the Indian, but when he reflected that he would doubtless be pursued, and his fight might lead not only to his own, but to the death of his family, and the destruction or plunder of his concealed property, he desisted from firing.
From his retreat, however, he watched the motions of the enemy for hours.
A party entered his house, and among the spoils brought from the cellar a keeler full of eggs, which they took to the kitchen, a little building detached from the dwelling, where they made a fire, boiled, and divided them.
He saw them rob his bee-hives, and a part of the robbers sit down and feast upon the dainty product of the insect's labor.
Soon after this a gun was fired, which was the signal for applying the incendiary torch, and one of the party, in Putman's presence, after swinging a fire-brand several times over his head until it blazed, applied it to the well-filled barns which were soon in flames.
The house was set on fire, and several of the party fired their guns into a number of stacks and barracks of grain near, and all were soon reduced to a heap of ruins.
The dwellings and out-buildings of the Newkirk's were also set on fire at the given signal, and soon shared the same fate. --Peter Putman, Ab'm V., son of Victor Putnam, and John, son of Marcus Hand.
TO BE CONTINUED ...